Lehman unveils science hub

Lehman College unveiled a $70 million, four-story Science Hall on Oct. 12, ushering in its three-phase plan to construct a science-centric corner of campus.

The building includes imaging technology that allows professors to pipe down video of diagrams and experiments to students working in sleek, spacious teaching labs. Rows of black countertops line the research lab to encourage discussion among students and faculty who are studying plants, genetics, microbiology and other disciplines. 

 “I like to think of this as putting our rubber stamp on the Bronx, where if you want to do STEM, you come to Lehman,” Biological Sciences Chair Liesl Jones said. 

She said the additional lab space will allow Lehman to compete with Hunter and City Colleges because it will allow the school to move students through the biology major in four years. 

“It’s going to redefine how we do research … we don’t have to worry about running cells up and down flights of stairs and wondering if they got contaminated,” she said 

Science Hall will be the first City University of New York building to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, according to officials. The rooftop sports greenhouses for research and studies, solar panels -–– which generate 4.37 percent of the building’s energy --–– and a rainwater collection system that cycles through the buildings’ toilets.

Glass windows run down the 69,000-square foot facility, breaking up the beige and metal panels lining its wings. Lehman purposely left offices vacant so Science Hall can be used to recruit faculty and graduate students.